The Journey Behind The Creation Of My Own Chinese Watch Bran

[koimaster]

Ron is mentioned in the thread at WUS. He should drop by here.

Hello everyone!

I used to post quite frequently in the past on F72, but following a mixup with my credentials I was locked out of my account for a time and became more of WatchUSeek reader than poster. But today, I am back and planning a series of posts about the process of creating a watch brand in China. This is a topic close to my heart and I wish to draw from my personal experience going through this process to present something that I hope you'll all find compelling. Rather than focusing on my watches, the focus of the posts will be on the creative and entrepreneurial journey that underpins the creation of microbrands and my hope is that we can start a lively and enriching discussion around this (and that, too, it can help the ones of you who are contemplating starting your very own venture).

First, some quick background about myself and my interest for Chinese watches. I am from France, have studied in the UK and China and have been watching (terrible pun intended) and collecting Chinese watches since the ripe old age of 14. For the first few years, I grew my knowledge of the field and developed a passion for it. But it was not until 2014 that I can say became a true part of the community. Indeed, as I was studying at Renmin University in the summer of 2014, I chanced upon Ron Good (AlbertaTime) at the Beijing Watch Factory store in Wangfujing as he was on his annual trip to China. Sharing a common interest, we hit it off immediately and Ron was kind enough to spend the days that followed teaching me more about Chinese watches and introducing me to people in the field. That is how I came to meet Li Wei, one of the senior members of the China Horologe Association, who quickly became a mentor and a (very) good friend. A year later, as I came back to Beijing to study at Peking University, Li Wei and I developed a close relationship and he introduced me to a whole world of Chinese watchmaking, Chinese culture and baijiu (rice alcohol that would warm up an Inuit such that they'd think they were in Honolulu)! All these companies whose products I had been craving were suddenly open to me: Seagull, Beijing, Dandong, etc. had no secrets anymore. During that year, I became an official member of the China Horologe Association and learned more about China and Chinese watches than I ever expected.

https://forums.watchuseek.com/f72/journ ... 39765.html

[AlbertaTime]

I'm around

I saw your name in the Chat Bawx twice and just missed you!

[koimaster]

I'm around

I saw your name in the Chat Bawx twice and just missed you!

Hey Ron,

I meant your friend. You are always around, taking up all the room on the sofa we have here.

[conjurer]

I'm around

I saw your name in the Chat Bawx twice and just missed you!

Hey Ron,

I meant your friend. You are always around, taking up all the room on the sofa we have here.

Not only that, but A-T also smokes like a chimney, and refuses to empty his ashtrays!

[AlbertaTime]

I'm around

I saw your name in the Chat Bawx twice and just missed you!

Hey Ron,

I meant your friend. You are always around, taking up all the room on the sofa we have here.

I will pass on your greeting (actually, just did) and thank you for the kindness of posting to his writing. I've noted before elsewhere here that Robin's a good guy--and so is his friend and designer, Wilfied, who I met this time in Beijing (upcoming post). I wish them the best, and I really like the design.

[AlbertaTime]

...refuses to empty his ashtrays!

With kindest regards, you'll have to pin that on someone who smokes

[artman]

AT, when I start my watch brand I'm calling you first!

[AlbertaTime]

AT, when I start my watch brand I'm calling you first!

I will help any way I can

But this has been Robin and Wilfried's baby. My involvement, other than introducing Robin to Li Wei and a couple of friends, has been minimal to the point of near non-existence. Nothing that I did should take anything away from their accomplishment.

That said, as a CWOWC committee lead, and as a CHA member--and with my new Guangzhou position, I have many knowledgeable folks I can introduce to help you. Just lemme know when you wanna begin